Man arrested after water park incident in Galesburg

GALESBURG — A Galesburg man’s call to social media helped guide police in the arrest of a man accused of taking unwanted photos at Galesburg’s water park.

According to police reports, Jordan Allen, 25, was with his girlfriend and two children Sunday afternoon at Lakeside Water Park, 1033 S. Lake Storey Road, when he spotted a man, later identified as Kerry D. Cox, 57, in his vehicle taking pictures of Allen’s family.

Following the incident, Allen put out a cash bounty on Facebook for information leading to the photographer. The social media manhunt directed Allen to Cox’s West Main Street home.

There, Allen recorded his encounter with Cox and later posted the video on YouTube. The video, which has been making the social media rounds since it was posted Tuesday, shows a first-person perspective of Allen confronting Cox.

Allen contacted police with Cox’s information, though it is unclear if he did so before or after approaching Cox himself

In the video, a woman Cox identified a his caretaker opened the door before Cox stepped outside. Allen raised his voice, demanding Cox delete any photos of his girlfriend and children from his camera and after a brief argument, Cox entered the house.

Cox re-emerged with the camera and clicked through the photos until Allen identified his family. Cox deleted the photos following another loud outburst from Allen.

The entire confrontation can be viewed on YouTube.

Allen told officers he wished to pursue charges against Cox, though, as Galesburg police Lt. Tom LaFollette explained, the act of taking photos in a public place is not illegal.

“We had parents alarmed and disturbed that this individual was taking photos of their children,” LaFollette told The Register-Mail on Wednesday, adding that no law had been broken until Allen came forward as being offended by Cox’s actions.

Cox was located by police at approximately 2:05 a.m. Wednesday in his home and placed under arrest for disorderly conduct, a Class A misdemeanor. The charge carries a maximum of 364 days in prison.

Reports indicated this is not the first time Cox’s name was brought up for similar accusations.

In 2006, he had reportedly taken a video of a couple having sex in their vehicle near Lake Storey. Then in 2007, Cox approached occupied vehicles on two separate occasions and stared at the occupants. There is no indication that Cox has prior convictions in Knox County.

Following his arrest, Cox was issued a notice to appear in court and released. He has been advised not to return to Lakeside.

In a Facebook release, the Galesburg Police Department urged individuals to work with authorities and not act alone in potentially dangerous situations.